A Family Homecoming Read Online Free PDF

minute while Sara nodded or shook her head. Danielle’s heart ached. She hoped their friendship lasted their whole lives—
    â€œSterling says there are no clues,” Jessica told her and sighed resignedly. “We’re afraid to let Jenny out of our sight for a minute.”
    â€œI know what you mean,” Danielle commiserated.
    â€œThe Kincaid fortune,” Jessica murmured, speaking of the legacy that had been left to her daughter when Wayne Kincaid and Clint Calloway, Jenny’s half brothers, had given up their share of the Kincaid legacy. Both men had decided to put the estate in trust for Jenny. Neither man wanted anything their father, Jeremiah, had left them. Now Jessica understood why. “I agree with Wayne. The Kincaid name is nothing but a curse.” After all, Jenny’s life was in danger simply because those kidnappers knew what she had to inherit.
    Wayne Kincaid had unexpectedly returned to Whitehorn after years of being away. Everyone had thought he had been killed in Vietnam, so the story went, but he returned under an assumed name to check out the town and the Kincaid ranch.
    He had helped nab some men who were trying to destroy the ranch so they could buy it for a song, then, his identity exposed, he’d stayed on. He had married Carey Hall, the pediatrician who took care of Sara and Jenny. The couple had just been blessed withtheir first child together at Christmas, and seven-year-old Sophie, Carey’s daughter from her first marriage, was delighted to have a baby brother.
    â€œI didn’t know your husband had returned,” Jessica continued, looking over Danielle’s shoulder.
    â€œYes, for a while. A couple of months,” she added so that no one, including herself, would think it was a permanent arrangement.
    Jessica cast her a quizzical glance but didn’t ask any questions. Danielle was grateful.
    She glanced across the room. The teacher was explaining the security in place for the girls to Kyle. Rafe Rawlings, who had recently been promoted to the town sheriff, had taken on the case himself and would be within a few feet of them at all times while they were at school. Lynn pointed out the window to a man dressed as a custodian.
    â€œSterling said Shane McBride was coming out to do a security check on your house this morning,” Jessica continued after a thoughtful moment.
    â€œOh, good,” Danielle said distractedly. Shane was the deputy sheriff and was working with Rafe on the case.
    She felt she knew and had dealt with every law enforcement officer in the county during the past month. All except the one she’d needed so desperately—her husband.
    Kyle strode toward her. “Ready?” he asked.
    â€œYes.” She introduced him to Jessica. “Sterling McCallum is a special investigator with the sheriff’s office—”
    â€œI know who he is.” Taking her arm, Kyle nodded to Jessica and ushered them out of the building.
    On the way home, Danielle went over several opening statements in her mind and discarded them all. “Don’t manhandle me in front of my friends,” she finally said.
    He cocked one dark eyebrow. “Only when we’re alone? Okay, I can handle that.”
    She clenched her hand inside her mitten. “Don’t touch me at all. And don’t give me orders.”
    He turned in the drive and parked. Leaning against the door, he observed her for a long moment. “You ordered me out of the library the first time we met. It was time to close, but I wasn’t finished researching old issues of the newspaper for information.”
    She stared out the window, wisps of memory floating around in her mind. It had been a day much like this one—cold and cloudy and threatening snow. She had ended up helping him, then walking across the street for coffee, which turned into a late meal, then he’d walked her to her car and driven behind her until she was safely in her